Nearly 29% of women in Afghanistan aged 20 to 24 were married before reaching the age of 18, according to survey data from 2022–2023 cited by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). In a report released on October 11 to mark the International Day of the Girl Child, UNICEF highlighted the continued prevalence of early marriage in Afghanistan and its consequences for girls' education, health and future opportunities.
According to the survey, 28.7% of women aged 20 to 24 were married before turning 18, while 9.6% were married before the age of 15. In some regions, early marriage affects as many as one in every two girls.
UNICEF warned that early marriage limits girls' access to education and increases their exposure to violence, social isolation and health complications associated with early pregnancy and childbirth. Pregnancy-related complications are among the leading causes of death for girls aged 15 to 19 in Afghanistan, according to the organization.
UNICEF emphasized that early marriage can be prevented through investment in education, legal reforms and social protection programs. Globally, approximately 68mn early marriages have been prevented over the past 25 years through such measures. The organization called for coordinated efforts to protect girls at risk of early marriage, support vulnerable families and improve access to healthcare and education.
It also urged families, religious and community leaders, and international partners to participate in efforts to end the practice. UNICEF's appeal comes amid continuing restrictions on education for girls and women in Afghanistan.
Since returning to power in August 2021, Taliban authorities have prohibited girls from attending school beyond the sixth grade. Women were subsequently banned from university education in December 2022. According to UNICEF data from August 2026, more than 2.6mn girls have been denied access to secondary education since the restrictions were introduced.
Afghanistan remains the only country where secondary and higher education are closed to girls and women. UNICEF has repeatedly called on Taliban authorities to reopen schools for girls above the sixth grade.
Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan, has also called for educational opportunities that would allow Afghan girls to determine their own futures. The organization noted that keeping girls in school is among the most effective measures for reducing early marriage, although education alone cannot eliminate the practice.
UNICEF identified poverty, displacement and limited access to essential services as additional factors contributing to early marriage in Afghanistan. Some families experiencing financial difficulties marry off their daughters at a young age to reduce household expenses. Early marriage is more prevalent among poorer families and those with limited education.
The restrictions on girls' education also increase their vulnerability to child labor and violence. Beyond their effects on individual girls, restrictions on education and employment are expected to affect Afghanistan's workforce and economy.
In April 2026, UNICEF warned that Afghanistan could face a shortage of 20,000 female teachers and 5,400 female healthcare workers by 2030 as a result of restrictions on women's education and employment. According to the organization, these restrictions also cause approximately $84mn in annual economic losses.
UNICEF continues to call for expanded educational opportunities, social protection and access to essential services to reduce early marriage and its consequences for girls in Afghanistan.